Clothes care apparatus



Jan. 17, 1967 R. v. SHIELDS CLOTHES CARE APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Oct. 21, 1964 Rhea V Sh/b/ds INVEN'J'OK m BY M Jan. 17, 1967 R. v.SHIELDS CLOTHES CARE APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 001:. 21, 1964Rhea V. Shields INVENTOK Q Ma a/5 WWW m United Stat Patenf 3,298,578CLOTHES CARE'APPARATUS Rhea V.Shields, East'Lansing,'Mich.

(1009 W. Adams, Macomb, Ill. 61455) Filed Oct. 21, 1964, Ser. No.405,560 3- Claims. (Cl. 223-.-67)

The present application is a continuation-in-part of copendingapplication Serial No. 324,831. I I

This application is generally concerned with the drying and finishing ofclothes, and moreparticularly relates to a device wherein a garment issubjected to a fiow of conditioned air while being subjected to aconstant pressure. I I v I It is a'prirnary object of the instantinvention to provide a garment finishing device which can be easilyaccommodated to different size garments] I \I Another significant objectof the instant invention is to provide a device which iseasily adaptablefor use in the home,. or on a commercial scale in, for example,selfiservice laundries. I I I I .Further, an important object of theinstant invention is the provisionof a clothes drying and finishingdevice which can be utilized in conjunction with any conventional sourceof forced air. II V Likewise, it is an object of the instant inventionto provide a clothes drying and finishing device: which incorporatestherein means for treating, such as mothproofing, the garment orclothing as it is being finished.

. In addition, it is a significant object of the instant .invention toprovidea device which can be collapsed for convenient storage.

Furthermore, it is an object of the instant invention to provide adevice wherein a professional finish on a garment can be obtained bothsimply and economically.

Also, it is a significant object of the instant invention to provide adrying device which can be easily adapted for also drying variousflatwork, or for that matter various objects such as carpets,mattresses, upholstered furniture, etc'. I

Further, it is an object of the instant invention to provide a devicewhich is inexpensive and capable of being economically manufactured,thereby enabling eve-nthe homeowner to maintain a supply of several ofthe basic bag units corresponding to the various types of garments to bedried and. finished. I

Basically, in order to achieve the above objects, the device of theinstant invention consists of an enlarged infiatable perforated bagcorresponding generally in shape to a predetermined type of garment,such as for example a dress. The bag is to be preferably madeof alaminate consisting of a layer of aluminum foil, for its heat conductingproperties, and either one or two coating layers of a suitable plasticfilm for strength. The shaped bag is' to include an adapter sealedwithinan enlarged opening in the bag and projecting therefrom for engagementwith, generally by a friction fit, the discharge end of a duct leadingfrom any conventional source of heated air. Further, in order to subjectthe garment being finished, which incidentally is applied over thebag,"to a treating agent, the adapter includes therein a foraminouscontainer within which the agent, such as for example mothproofingcrystals, can be placed. The treating agent will of course be dispersedthroughout the interior of the infiatablebag', and from there throughthe perforations and through the garment mounted thereon. Finally,thedevice includes a hanger, of any suitable non-rusting .material'rer'novably sealed within the upper end of the bag and projectingtherefrom for suspension of the bag from any suitable overhead support.I

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claime d,referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof,wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

'FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of the device of the instantinvention;

7 FIGURE 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially on aplane passing along line 2-2 in FIG- URE H I v FIGURE 3 is an enlargedcross-sectional view taken substantially on a plane passing along line33 in FIG- URE l and illustrating a detail of the bag construction;.FIGUREA is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantiallyon aplane passing along line 44 in FIG- URE 2 and illustratingthe adapterincluding the foraminous or screen container for the treating agent;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged.cross-sectional view through the upper end.offthe bagillustrating the hanger and the mannerinwhich'it is'mounteld;

FIGURE6 illustrates a modified form of bag adapted to accommodate adifferent type'of garment or garments;

and

FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a modifiedform ofadapter, this adapter also including the screen basket container for thetreating agent.

Referring,- now more specifically to the drawings, the reference numeral10 is generally used to designate the drying andfinishing device of theinstant invention. This device, as noted supra, consists basically ofaninfiatable bag 12, a .hanger 14, a'ndan adapter'or duct-like connector16.

The bag 12 itself is to be flexible and inflatable and when inflated,assume the general configuration of a conventional' garment, for examplea dress as illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2 or a pair of full lengthcoveralls as illustrated in FIGURE 6. Incidentally, with regard to thetwo basic shapes illustrated, it will be appreciated that thedress formofFIGURES 1 and 2 can also be utilized as a blouse or sweater form, aswell as a skirt form, while the coverall form of FIGURE 6 can be equallyadaptedv for use as a form for shirts, sweaters, jackets and trousers.Further, when only a portion of a particular bag 12 is being utilized,the remainder of the bag 10 is collapsed and secured in its collapsedposition by any suitable clip means so as to enable an increase inthe-flow of air through the actual part of the bag 12 being used, thesignificanceof this being more fully appreciated in light of thefollowing description of the operation of the device 10.

,The bag 12 is to be specifically constructed of a lamination ofaluminum foil and plastic film, the aluminum being desirable for itsability to quickly transfer heat, while the plastic film provides thenecessary strength. Several types of pliable and flexible plastics whichmight be used are polyethylene film, vinylite film, polyglycolterephthalate film, etc.

As one example :of the manner in which the bag 12 may be formed, :theplastic film, for example polyethylene .film, generally referred to byreference numeral 18 in the drawings, is extruded in molten form onaluminum foil, referred to by reference numeral 20, and subsequentlycooled off. This produces a one side heat laminate, however, it will ofcourse be appreciated that the foil 20 can be coated on both sides, ifso desired, by the same desired pattern or patterns and the seamsfor-med by heat sealing aud,if desired for added reinforcement, sewing.

turned inside out so asto conceal the seams and prevent the forming ofundesirable lines in the garments while the garments are being air driedand subjected to pressure by the inflated bag asshall be explainedpresently. Incide'ritally, in addition to scaling the seams, varioustypes of plastic glues,for example ethylene dichloride, or sol- Ventscan be used to weld the joints.

'The'bag is to be provided with a plurality of ,aifholes 22 over theentire or substantiallythe entire area thereof, the holes being formedin any suitable manner such asby being 'cold punched or heat punched.The holes 22 are of course to' be relatively small and orientated so asto provide for an even flow of air therethrough and into engagement witha garment to. be draped. over the bag 12.

The bag 12 is, when in use, suspended from a suitable .overhead supportby thehanger 14,, this hanger,14 being formed of plastic or othersuitable non-rusting material andproviding a firm formed support fortheupper portion I of" the -bag 12. The'hanger. 141iricludes'a narrow neckportion which projects upwardly'through an enlarged Opening$24-intheupper end. of. the-bag 12, the edges of the bag 12 defining thisopening 24 being-tightly gathered about the neck of the hanger'14 andpositively sealed thereto by an elastic" compression ring 26, thehanging hook 28 of the hanger 14. of course :projecting above the bag12.

The connector or ada'pter '16issuitably sealed within an enlargedaperture or opening 30 provided in the lower end of the bag 12 andincl.uding,.if necessary, an additional integr'alflange 0f the bagmaterial which can be tightly gathered about the connector 16 and sealedthere- -'to by, for example, an elastic compression ring 32. The

adapter 16 consistsitbasically of an elongated tubular member 34havingan outwardly flared inner end 36 forming a flange against whichthe surrounding portions of the 'b'ag12 are clamped by'the externalclampv 32 .soas to lock the tubular adapter: 16 within the garmentopenlar portion 34 is formed soas to receive the discharge end 38 of aduct 40 leading from any conventional source wire screen basket. Thiscontainer 42 is orientated so as to project inwardly of the bag 12 fromthe inner end of the tubular portion 34 of the connector 16 with theopen end 44 of the container being outwardly flared for engagementbehind an internal annular shoulder-forming projection 46 within theinner end of the tubular portion ing orintake port 30. The-outer end ofthe hollow tubu- '34. This container 42 is to be provided with suitablegarment-treating material, such as mothproofing crystals or-cakes 48whereby the vapors therefrom will be carried, by the forced air, intothe bag 12, and from the bag 12 through the apertures or holes 22 intothe garment.

Referring now specifically to FIGURE 7, it will be noted that a modifiedform of adapter 50 has been illustrated therein, this adapter 50including an elongated hollow tubular portionh52 having an annularradially outwardly projecting flange on the inner end thereof, thisflange 54 alsogprojecting radially inward of the side wall of thetubular portion 52'so as to provide an annular shoulderforming portion56. The outer surface of the outwardprojecting portion of the annularflange 54 is stepped .as, atf58, with the materialof the bag 12following the stepped configuration circumfercntially thereabout andbeing clamped and sealed thereto by an annular clamping ring having amating stepped inner face and being I looked in position by a pluralityof elongated bolts 62 extending therethrough andthreaded into theannular flange 54. This modified form-of adapter 0 also includes a wisetreating the various garments. This container 64 also includes alaterally directed open end which engages behind the shoulder-formingannular portion 56 with this open end including a pivotally mountedcover 66 and a clip 68 for retaining it closed while at the same timeallowing it to be readily opened for obtaining access to the interior ofthe container 64 for placing or replacing the, for example, mothcrystals. The outer end of the tubular portion 52 of the adapter 50 isalso adapted for engagement Within any discharge end 70 of aconventional source of forced heated air, the particular discharge end70 shown in FIGURE 7 including an expansible resilient split ring 72.

that the device is equally adaptable for the finishing and removing ofWrinkles from garments which have not been laundered. This isaccomplished by merely introducing a predetermined amount of moisturealong with the heated air, this heated moisturized air, together withthe pressure exerted by the inflated bag 12, effectively removing anywrinkles which might be present. This introduction of moisture into theflow of heated air can be accomplished in any conventional manner, suchas for example, utilizing the heated air being exhausted from aconventional home laundry dryer during the normal operation thereof inthe drying of. various other articles which would normally not needfinishing. By the same token, the device can also be used to treat agarment, such as for example, mothproofi ng, both alone or inconjunction with a drying or finish- =-ing operation. Likewise, inasmuchas the garment-shaped bag 12 is inflatable, it will be appreciated thatit can be readily collapsed and folded for compact storage, and

further, can. accommodate a Wide range of different size garments withthe-inflation thereof continuing until the garment itselflimits furtherexpansion, it being contemplated that the garment, at this stage, have aconstant overall pressureexertcd thereon suflicicnt so as to remove,

; in conjunction with the heated air, any wrinkles which might, bepresent.

Another advantage residing in the use ofa collapsible bag .is the factthat various unused portions of the bag 12 can be rolled up and clippedclosed so as to allow for a greater flow of air through the remainingportion. of the bag. For example, when utilizing a shirtshaped garmentbag to dry a short sleeved shirt,

the forearm portions of the bag can be rolled up and clipped. W hile theabove-described bags 12 have been specifically defined as assuming theshape of a garment, the instant invention also contemplates theprovision of a relatively flat bag having perforations or openings inonly one face thereof, such a bag being particularly useful in thedrying of 'flatwork, carpets, mattresses, upholstered furniture, etc.Finally, the particular laminated construction of the bag itselfprovides for a highlydurable though relatively inexpensive device withit being contemplated that each user of the device possess several-bagscorresponding to various garments with these bags-either including theirown adapter or utilizing a single interchangeable adapter.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scopenof'th'e invention asclaimed. a

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. Clothes care apparatus comprising an enlarged vertically orientatableflexible bag, said bag being free of internal support structure andselectively inflatable and collapsible, said bag, when collapsed, beingcompletely foldab'le, said bag being inflatable through the introductionof air under pressure, said introduced air constituting the soleinternal means preventing said bag from collapsing, said bag, wheninflated, generally conforming to the shape of and being receivablewithin a garment, means on said bag for selectively connecting said bagto a source of continuously flowing air for introduction of the air intosaid bag so as to inflate said bag, means for enabling a passage of theair from said bag over a substantial area thereof at a rate less thanthe rate of flow of air into the bag so as to permit a flow of airthrough said bag while maintaining the inflation thereof, and means forvertically suspending said apparatus from an overhead support, the meansfor enabling the passage of air from said bag consisting of a largenumber of small air passing perforations therein, said means forconnecting said bag to a source of air including an enlarged openingthrough said bag, and a connector fixed within said opening andprojecting therefrom for engagement with the discharge end of aconventional source of moving air, said connector including an internalpassage therethrough so as to allow for a guided movement of the airinto the bag, said means for vertically suspending said apparatuscomprising a second enlarged opening in said bag, a hanger in supportingposition in said bag, a hanging portion of said hanger projectingthrough said second opening for engagement with an overhead support, andmeans selectively sealing said second opening about said hanger so as toretain the hanger therein.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 including a foraminous container for atreating agent, said container being mounted within the internal airguiding passage of the connector, said container projecting inwardly ofsaid connector into the interior of said bag.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 including abutment means projectinglaterally into said internal passage adjacent the inner end of theconnector, said container including a laterally directed flange portionon the outer end thereof engaged with the abutment means, therebymounting the container on the connector with .a substantial portion ofthe container projecting inwardly into the bag from the inner end of theconnector.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,140,961 12/1938 Lendle 223 2,443,557 6/ 1948 Fitpold 223--67 2,515,848 7/ 1950Winter 22367 2,679,956 6/ 1954 Richterkessing 22370 2,991,550 7/1961Block.

2,993,806 7/1961 Fisher et a1.

3,048,310 8/1962 Dosal 223-70 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

G. V. LARKIN, Examiner.

1. CLOTHES CARE APPARATUS COMPRISING AN ENLARGED VERTICALLY ORIENTATABLEFLEXIBLE BAG, SAID BAG BEING FREE OF INTERNAL SUPPORT STRUCTURE ANDSELECTIVELY INFLATABLE AND COLLAPSIBLE, SAID BAG, WHEN COLLAPSED, BEINGCOMPLETELY FOLDABLE, SAID BAG BEING INFLATABLE THROUGH THE INTRODUCTIONOF AIR UNDER PRESSURE, SAID INTRODUCED AIR CONSTITUTING THE SOLEINTERNAL MEANS PREVENTING SAID BAG FROM COLLAPSING, SAID BAG, WHENINFLATED, GENERALLY CONFORMING TO THE SHAPE OF AND BEING RECEIVABLEWITHIN A GARMENT, MEANS ON SAID BAG FOR SELECTIVELY CONNECTING SAID BAGTO A SOURCE OF CONTINUOUSLY FLOWING AIR FOR INTRODUCTION OF THE AIR INTOSAID BAG SO AS TO INFLATE SAID BAG, MEANS FOR ENABLING A PASSAGE OF THEAIR FROM SAID BAG OVER A SUBSTANTIAL AREA THEREOF AT A RATE LESS THANTHE RATE OF FLOW OF AIR INTO THE BAG SO AS TO PERMIT A FLOW OF AIRTHROUGH SAID BAG WHILE MAINTAINING THE INFLATION THEREOF, AND MEANS FORVERTICALLY SUSPENDING SAID APPARATUS FROM AN OVERHEAD SUPPORT, THE MEANSFOR ENABLING THE PASSAGE OF AIR FROM SAID BAG CONSISTING OF A LARGENUMBER OF SMALL AIR PASSING PERFORATIONS THEREIN, SAID MEANS FORCONNECTING SAID BAG TO A SOURCE OF AIR INCLUDING AN ENLARGED OPENINGTHROUGH SAID BAG, AND A CONNECTOR FIXED WITHIN SAID OPENING ANDPROJECTING THEREFROM FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE DISCHARGE END OF A CON-